Caucasus

"Heartfelt appeal" for end to fighting and resumption of dialogue in Ukraine. "In becoming man God tasted our own thirst, not only our material thirst for water, but above all the thirst for a full life, free from the slavery of evil and death”. Filipinos, a "wonderful people"

"Christian unity will not be the fruit of subtle theoretical discussions in which each party tries to convince the other of the soundness of their opinions. We need to realize that, to plumb the depths of the mystery of God, we need one another, we need to encounter one another and to challenge one another under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, who harmonizes diversities and overcomes conflicts. Who reconciles differences".

"Despite some misunderstandings and difficulties, there have been advances in interreligious dialogue, also with the faithful of Islam." "The exercise of listening" essential to understand the values of the other and strengthen ones identity. Avoiding "the snares of a conciliatory syncretism which, in the end, is empty and a harbinger of a totalitarianism without values".

No matter how serious the sins are all you need to do is "repent and ask for forgiveness": "you do not have to pay anything," because "Christ already paid for us". Confession "more than a judgment, is an encounter” with the Lord who "embraces you." "Teach our children, our young people to confess well, so that going to confession is not like going to the dry cleaners to remove a stain. No! It is going to meet the Father."

In his message for the 49th World Day of Social Communications, Pope Francis calls the family "the paradigm of communication." In it, as in the womb, you learn encounter, language, prayer, closeness, forgiveness. The media often treat the family as "an object" over which to wage ideological battles and not as a place in which to learn to communicate. We need to "relearn to tell, not just to produce and consume information".

The process will open on 27 January in Frascati where the founder of the Focolare Movement lived most of her life and where she is buried. Her journey began as bombs fell on Trent, developing into communities that lived by the principle of unity. She undertook ecumenical work with Athenagoras and Protestant Churches. She also was open to members of other religions and to atheists in order to create "universal brotherhood on this earth."

"He is the Savior and as our Savior today, right now, he is interceding for us. May our Christian life be increasingly convinced of this that we have been saved, we have a Savior, Jesus at the right hand of the Father, interceding for us. May the Lord, the Holy Spirit, help us understand these things”.

Acts of “brutality” in Niger against “children, against churches", "war can never be waged in the name of God". The trip to Sri Lanka and the Philippines. St. Joseph Vaz "a model for all Christians, called today to propose the saving truth of the Gospel in a multi-religious context". "Care for the poor is an essential element of our Christian life and witness; it involves the rejection of all forms of corruption, because corruption steals from the poor, it demands a culture of honesty."

The tournament, held in Australia between 9 and 31 January, is now in the final knockout phase. So far, it has attracted a record number of viewers in Asia, where it is already the sporting event of the year. Match-fixing and illegal betting are being closely monitored. In Mosul, the Islamic state executed 13 teenagers for their love of the game.

The gap between the world’s wealthy and the rest of the population is increasing. Between 2009 and 2013, the wealth of the richest 1% has increased from 44% to 48%. Rules governing international taxation need to be overhauled by taxing capital more and labor less; setting minimum wages and implementing a social safety net for the poorest.

Freedom of expression is not an end in itself. Opposite extremes of violent fundamentalism and absolute freedom must give way to the "will to live together". The West is becoming a multi-religious society. As in the case of the Holocaust, we must limit anti-religious "negationism". Lebanon is a model. Secularism is dead.

On the flight back to the Vatican, Pope Francis spoke with reporters about the family and "ideological colonisation", about responsible fatherhood and Humane Vitae, as well as Neo-Malthusianism, corruption, Islamic terrorism and prudence in freedom of expression (Charlie Hebdo). He also answered questions about China and the Dalai Lama, saying that he did not reject the Buddhist leader nor did he fear China.